Even amid a wave of early-season injuries, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to establish themselves as the standard in the National League West—and perhaps all of baseball. Through mid-May, the Dodgers hold a 27-15 record, leading the division and reinforcing what rival executives have come to expect: the depth, firepower, and organizational excellence in L.A. are built to endure.
In a recent poll of 17 MLB executives conducted by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, 16 picked the Dodgers to win the division, underscoring how strongly they’re viewed across the league—even during a stretch without several of their biggest contributors.
With pitchers Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Roki Sasaki sidelined, and position players like Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman also missing time, Los Angeles has still managed to stay on track. “They’ve had pitching injuries in past years and gotten through them,” one NL executive said. “It’s still the Dodgers. They have the deepest and best lineup in baseball.”
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That lineup features some of the game’s most recognizable names. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman anchor an offense that few teams can match in length or consistency. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has emerged as an early Cy Young contender, and Sasaki—expected to return soon—has the upside to dominate once he settles in.
“Yamamoto is on a Cy Young trajectory, and I could see Sasaki figuring things out and running away with the Rookie of the Year, while Shohei makes it a clean sweep with another MVP,” an AL executive noted.
The Dodgers’ success isn’t just about star power—it’s their ability to supplement it with depth and development. Even as injuries test their rotation and bullpen, the front office continues to fill gaps without missing a beat.
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“Despite a slower start by their own standard, their talent level and organizational depth stand out,” one executive said. “They’re still well-positioned to take control of the division as the season progresses.”
Only one executive in the poll picked a team other than the Dodgers to win the division, citing San Diego’s potential upside as it gets healthier. But even that lone vote came with the caveat that overtaking L.A. would require everything to go right.
“The Dodgers just have too much firepower,” said an AL exec. “Lineup, bullpen, front office—they’re built for the long haul.”
As the 2025 season stretches into its middle months, the Dodgers remain exactly what most of baseball expected: the most complete and dangerous team in the National League. The injuries may be mounting, but the expectations—and results—haven’t dipped.